Window-screen



No. 609,134. Patented Aug; l6, (8'98. G. R. BECKWITH &. W. F. MCGDLLUM.

WINDOW SCREEN.

(Application filed Jan. a1, 1898.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N0 Model.)

Patented Aug. l6, I898. G. R. BECKW|T-H'& W. F. MCCULLUM.

WINDOW SCREEN.

(Application filed Jan. a1. 1598. Modem 2 Sheets$heet 2.

v Fla DzLe/w/J Wdmms W% GROVE BECKWITH AND WVILLIAM F. MCCOLLUM, OFMINNEAPOLIS NHED STATES PATENT '1 intros.

MINNESOTA, ASSIGNQRS, DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THOMAS COOHRAN,JR, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

WIN DOW-SCREEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,134, dated August16, 1898.

Application filed January 31, 1898. Serial No. 668,519. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GROVE R. BEOKWITH and WILLIAM F. MOOOLLUM, ofMinneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Window-Screens, of which the following is aspecification.

Our invention relates to window-screens, its object beingto providean'improved form of the automatic type thereof which are whollyconcealed from View while the window is closed and exposed to view whenthe sash is opened and extended to cover the open space only, being paidout or taken up by the mere movement of the sash.

Tothis end our invention consists in the features of constructionhereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a perspective View of part of a window and its lower sash shownfitted with our invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional detail showing mannerof connectin g the winding-ribbon to the roll. Fig. 3

is a cross-sectional detail showing the screen in the coiled positionassumed when the sash is closed. Fig. 1 is a detail showing means ofattachment of the screen was frame. Fig. 5 is a sectional perspectivedetail of the screencase. the case-brackets. Fig. 7 is adetailcrosssection of the case, showingthe inside of the connected bracket.Figs. 8 and 9 are details of a modified construction of the connectionsof the winding-ribbon to the frames shown in the position assumed whenthe screen is I disconnected from the sill and the sash partly raised.illustrating the position and shape of the screen-coils around the rollwhen wound up or with the window closed. Fig. 11 is a similar viewshowing their form and position when the screen is extended by theopening of the sash; and Fig. 12 shows, illustratively, how

the screen may be mounted without a special form of case, but containedin a chamber, as.

in the rail of the sash.

In Figs. 1 to 11 of the drawings the device Fig. dis a perspectivedetail of one of Fig. is a diagrammatic drawing.

is shown as ordinarily constructed and applied, while Fig. 12 suggestsone of a number ofmodifications." p

A represents the window-frame; 2, its sill; 3, the lower sliding sash;4, the parting-bead 5, the outer stop, and 6 the supplementary stop.

7 is a sheet-metal case folded together at 8, where it may be attachedto the sash 3 by nails or screws. The edges of the case are formed withopen folds or hems 9 and 10, interspaced sufficiently for the screen 23to run through and be guided by them, as hereinafter described. The caseis curved into substantially cylindrical form and provided withdrainage-openings 19, serving as outlets for water and inlets for air toprotect the screencoils from moisture.

11 are brackets adapted to hold the ends of the case and having slots 13to receive the tongues 2 on the case, which are clenched over afterinsertion to secure the parts together. Spurs 17 enter the hems 9 and 10to position them and maintain proper width of the slot, other spurs 18entering the case and supporting its walls. The brackets are secured tothe sash by screws entering holes 14. A hood or flange covers andprotects the joint between the case and bracket, and. has a hollow stud16, forming a slotted opening and guide for the winding-ribbon 33.

tons upon the inner face of the stops 6 may be employed to secure theedges of the extended screen and preventits being blown inward, thebuttons being tripped to release the screen by the brackets 11 asthesash descends. The spacebetween the parting-bead 4 and stops 5 and 6is closed against the admission of insects by the flange 31 on thebracket.

The roll 20 carries at one end a drum 32, to which the winding-ribbon 33is attached by the end 34 of the ribbon being folded around the bar 35,formed by cutting away the periphery of the drum, as shown in Fig. 2, toform an eye. The ribbon is wound upon the drum oppositely to thewindings of the screen upon the roll, and its free end is attached tothe stop 6, so as to givea fixed support to resist a pull upon theribbon while permitting the ribbon to slip or slide thereon under athrusting force for the purpose hereinafter set forth. This ispreferably accomplished by channeling the stop 6 at 38 and bridging thechannel by a strip 39, the ribbon being passed through the channel underthe strip and having a cross bar or pin 40, which normally engages thestrip 39, while the ribbon is free to run or slide upward in thechannel. Any slack of the ribbon caused by lifting the sash when thescreen is disconnected from the sill is thus taken up by the slip of theribbon, thereby preventing its doubling upon itself. The screen isformed of wire-netting possessing a limited degree of stiffness andresiliency, and the ribbon is preferably made from thin sheet metal tosecure in a moderate degree both stiffness and flexibility. The objectin using a winding-ribbon is to dispense with ascreen-winding springwhich offers resistance to the movement of the sash and a varyingtension upon the screen. The object in employing a stiff resilientfabric for the screen is to secure compensation for the varying speed ofwinding and unwinding of the oppositely-coiled screen and ribbon as theroll is carried by the sash. As the sash descends and the roll isrotated to take up the screen the screen is wound up progressivelyfaster with uniform rotation of the roll, owing to theprogressively-increasing diameter of the superimposed coils. Since,however, the roll'is rotated by the ribbon as it is unwound therefromand as the diameter of the ribboncoils decreases, the rotative speed ofthe roll relatively to the travel of the sash progressively increases,thus multiplying the variance in take-up of the screen. As it isimportant to employ an inelastic ribbon and non-stretching screen fabricsome means for compensating for the variances noted must be provided.This is secured in the highest degree of practical efficiency by theresiliency of the screen fabric, and its action is illustrated in Figs.10 and 11. When the window is closed, Fig. 10, the pull of thewinding-ribbon with its drum-coils of minimum diameter tends to compressthe coils of the screen,which are the maximum in number to minimumdiameter, and draws them closely toward the roll, while with the sashraised the winding of the ribbon requires a progressively-slowerrotation of the roll relative to the movement of the sash and consequentexpansion of the screen-coils.

The resiliency of the screen fabric, which offers elastic resistance tothe winding orcoiling of the web, therefore causes the coils to assumemaximum diameter and expands them away from the roll to the limitsdetermined by the size of the case and the tension of thewinding-ribbon. WVith proper adj ustment of the parts when the sash isopened at all the outer screen-coil is expanded into contact with thecase, so as to close the case against the passage of insectstherethrough, and the expansive resiliency of the coils serves to alwaysmaintain slight tension upon both ribbon and extended screen-web. Thestiffness of the screen fabric as the sash is closed tends to thrust theextended web into the case,which action is assisted by the tension ofthe ribbon, which leads or draws it into the case by rotating theconnected roll. The winding-ribbon or its equivalent is absolutelynecessary to assist in coiling or carrying the fabric into the case.With a fabric of this character the friction upon the inner wall of thecase would prevent the extended web from thrusting itself thereinto, norcould the fabric be given a permanent coiled shape or set which couldserve to alone draw the extended web into the case when released. Theribbon or equivalent winding attachment to rotate the roll at apredetermined speed either uniform or progressively increasing as thesash is closed therefore could not be dispensed with, and the resiliencyof the fabric is equally essential for the purpose of compensation, asabove set forth, in lieu of additional attachments,

may be particularly described as follows: The

stops 6 are secured in place, the screen wound upon the roll, the rollinserted into the case,

IIO

the free end of the screen extending through the slot. The brackets arethen secured upon the ends of the case by means of the tongues 12 withthe ribbon 33 drawn out through the slot 16. The brackets and case arethen screwed to the sash, the but-tons 28 screwed to the sill and turnedso as to engage the lips 27, and thus connect the screen to the sill.The ribbon is drawn out and attached to the stop 6 with sufficienttension applied to the roll to compress the screen-coils the requisite1.

amount. The sash can then be raised and lowered without the attachmentexerting any appreciable resistance or drag upon it, the ribbon andextended web of the screen being always under slight tension by reasonof the expansive resiliency of the screen-coils. The hems 9 and 10 serveas guides for the running of the web into and out of the case, so thatit is always held close to the stops 6, against which it may be securedby the buttons 30. As the sash descends the brackets 11 trip thesebuttons and release the web, allowing it to be drawn into the case. Whenthe sash is closed, the wedge strip 25 enters and tightly closes theslot between the hems 9 and 10, the spring of the lips 27 permitting itto oscillate sufficiently for that purpose. The perforations 19 serve todrain off any moisture adhering to the screen and admit air to dry thesame. When it is desired to open the window without the screen beingextended over the opening, the buttons 28 are turned to release it fromthe sill and allow it to run into the case. The sash may then be raised,the ribbon sliding upward through the channel 38, thereby protecting itfrom kinking or breakage.

In the modified construction of Fig. 12 the functions of the parts arethe same except as to the guiding and controlling action of the case.

By proper rearrangement the device may be efficiently applied to the topsash or mounted upon the window-frame instead of the sash.

We claim- 1. In a device of the class described, in combination, aframe, a sliding sash, a roll, a screen fabric attached thereto andexpansively resilient as coiled thereon, and means for automaticallyrotating said roll to impart a predetermined peripheral speed of thesuperposed coils variable with respect to the travel of the sash,whereby the resiliency of said coils compensates for such variablespeed, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with the frame and sliding sash, the roll, the meanscontrolled by the travel of the sash for positively rotating the roll ata predetermined relative speed, and a resilient screen attached to andadapted to be wound upon said roll by its rotation, the elasticity ofits coils compensating for the varying tension upon the screen.

3. In combination with the fixed part and the sliding part, the rolljournaled on one part, the resilient screen attached to and coiledthereon, the drum upon said roll, and the ribbon wound thereonoppositely to the windings of the screen, the free end of both ribbonand screen being normally fixed to the other part whereby the resiliencyof the screen maintains substantially constant tension upon both screenand ribbon.

4:- In a structure of the class described, the combination with theframe, the sliding sash, the roll journaled on the sash, the resilientscreen attached to and Wound upon said roll, the means for detachablyconnecting the free end of the screen with the frame, and thewinding-ribbon attached to said roll, of the slip connection for thefree end of the ribbon with the frame, as and for the purposes; setforth.

5. In combination the sheet-metal screencase having overlapping openhems, and the brackets having spurs entering said hems, flangesoverlapping the abutting ends of the case and flanges projecting intothe spaces between the window parting-beads and stops, as and for thepurposes specified.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a sheet-metal 'screen-case,folded upon itself to form an attaching-flange, and having edges formedinto overlapping open hems c0nstituting a guide-slot for the screen,brackets having spurs entering and positioning said hems,and beingsecured to the case by tongues upon the latter passedthrough slots inthe brackets and clenched, and flanges upon the brackets overlapping theabutting ends of the case.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, in combination with ascreen-roll, a ribbondrum thereon having a peripheral eye to receive aloop of the ribbon formed by cutting away the drum with a bar spanningthe opening substantially parallel to the axis of the drum, as and forthe purposes'specified.

8. In a window-screen, the combination, of a window-frame and slidingsash, with a longitudinally-slotted barrel adapted to be at-&

tached to said sash, a roll journaled in said barrel, a resilient screenfabric attached to said roll and also to the window-frame, to be drawnfrom the said barrel by the opening movement of said sash, and aninelastic cord or tape having a normally-fixed point of attachmentactuated by the closing movement of the sash to rotate said roll anddraw the fabric into said barrel, substantially as described.

9. The combination, in a window-screen, of a longitudinally-slottedbarrel, with a roller arranged therein, resilient screen fabric attachedto said roller expanded within said barrel, and extending through theslot in said barrel, and an inelastic tape or band attached to saidroller and wound thereon oppositely to said fabric, and having arelatively-fixed point of attachment, substantially as described. 10.The combination in awindow-screen, of a window-frame and sliding sash,with a barrel or case mounted upon said sash and provided with alongitudinal slot, a roller to rotate Within said case or barrel, astiff resilient screen fabric having one end attached to said roller,and having the other end extended through the slot in said barrel andattached to the window-frame, and a winding-tape attached to and woundupon said roller, and having a fixed point of attachment to said frame,whereby said roller is actuated by the movement of the sash, to lead thefabric into said barrel, substantially as described.

11. In combination, with a window and a sliding sash, a barrel or casemounted upon the sash, and having a longitudinal slot formed by theoverlapping edges thereof, a roller journaled in said case, a stiffresilient screen fabric having one end attached to said roll andextending through the slot in said barrel, a wedge-shaped strip carriedby the other end of the fabric and adapted to be attached to thewindow-frame, and to closely fit into the slot in said case when thesash is closed, and a winding-tape connected to said roll, and having afixed point of attachment to said frame whereby it is actuated by theclosing of the sash to turn said roll and lead the fabric into thebarrel.

12. In an attachment of the class described, in combination,a barrel orcase for the screenfabric coil mounted upon the sash and having alongitudinal opening formed by one edge thereof overlapping, but spacedfrom, the other edge and through which opening the screen fabrictravels, means for carrying the fabric into and out of said barrel, aWedgeshaped strip secured to the outward end of the fabric, and havingan oscillating connection with the frame and adapted to fit into theopening in the barrel.

said case, having prongs entering said hems so as to position the same,substantially as described.

14. The combination, in a window-screen, of the tubular guard or casing,with the shaft or roller provided therein, the wire-screen fabric coiledWithin said guard or casing, the inner end of said fabric being attachedto said roller, the differential pulley provided in connection with saidroller and Within said casing, the ribbon or band arranged upon saidpulley and having one end attached thereto, and a slot in said casingthrough which the other end of said ribbon is carried, substantially asdescribed.

15. The combination,in a roller or automatic Window-screen of the Windowframe and sash, with a coil of wire-screen fabric, means for securingthe outer end of the coil, said coil and outer end being connectedrespectively with the Window-sash and the windowframe, turn-buttons onsaid frame to hold the edges of the fabric when drawn from the coil, andsaid turn-buttons being automatically operated by the movement of theWindow-sash, substantially as described.

Witness our hands this th day of November, 1897.

GROVE R. BECKWITH. WVILLIAM F. MCCOLLUM.

Witnesses:

FRANK M. SMITH, GEO. K. SMITH.

